Around 500,000 demonstrators marched through Madrid on Saturday, according to organizers, while authorities estimated the crowd at 70,000, following the parliamentary rejection of two government housing decrees.
Parliamentary Rejection Triggers Nationwide Protests
The protests erupted a day after the Spanish parliament narrowly defeated two government decrees designed to protect tenants and prevent evictions. Opposition parties voted down the emergency bills, with the first failing 172 to 178 and the second failing 166 to 184. The Partido Popular, Vox, and UPN voted against the measures, while Junts refused to support them.
Protesters have maintained an encampment at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol for roughly a week. The demonstrations initially sparked following the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman who was carried out on a stretcher and hospitalized after new owners bought the property where she lived and sought to raise her rent by 275 percent. Activists from more than 20 European countries joined the Madrid demonstrations, viewing the eviction as a turning point. These participants, including about 200 housing activists, arrived to counterprogram The District, one of Europe’s largest real estate fairs. The group includes members from Ireland, Germany, Portugal, France, England, Greece, Romania and Switzerland.
Clashes and Demonstrations Across Spanish Cities
Protests extended beyond the capital to around 50 other cities, including Valencia, San Sebastián, Cádiz, and Barcelona. In Valencia, demonstrators marched toward the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía during the Valencia Real Estate Summit 2026. Some participants removed police barriers and threw objects at officers, who responded with rubber bullets and tear gas. Dozens of protesters entered Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences before police ejected them.
In Cádiz, organizers reported that buying a home reaches 200,000 euros and average rent is about 900 euros; that march ended at City Hall with a manifesto reading. Marches also occurred in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Tenerife. Teruel is scheduled to hold a demonstration Sunday at 18:30 starting from Plaza del Torico.
Valeria Racu, a spokesperson for the Tenants’ Union, stated that organizers are negotiating a general strike with other organizations. The Tenants’ Union is demanding a 50 percent cut in rents, open-ended contracts, and the expropriation of homes from vulture funds. Antonio Garamendi, president of the employers’ confederation CEOE, acknowledged the right to protest but warned that he would take action against a general strike, labeling it illegal.
Sánchez weighs early elections following congressional defeat
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez entered a period of reflection following the congressional defeat to consider whether to call early elections. Sánchez warned opposition lawmakers during his speech that history would judge them harshly. Opposition leaders renewed calls for elections, while Junts officials described the defeated decrees as poorly drafted legislation that would discourage property sales.
Vice-President Yolanda Díaz assigned responsibility for ongoing evictions to Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Abascal, and Míriam Nogueras. Meanwhile, housing campaigners and international delegations continue their assembly at Puerta del Sol, where activists from London, Lisbon, and Berlin have drawn parallels between Spain’s housing crisis and affordability pressures across Europe.
Nadz Vogel, 29, of the London Renters’ Union, noted that an eviction in Spain making news in England is unprecedented, adding, “And now everyone is talking about it.” A 26-year-old protester in Madrid told Reuters that the situation “only proves that it is us the people who have to adapt to the political parties, and not the politicians to what the people want, and this can’t go on like that.”
Frequently Asked Questions About the Housing Protests
Why did the Spanish parliament reject the housing decrees?
Congress voted down the emergency measures on Friday after the Partido Popular, Vox, and UPN opposed them, and Junts refused to support them, with party officials arguing the text would discourage property sales.
What are the core demands of the Tenants’ Union?
The Tenants’ Union is demanding a 50% reduction in rents, open-ended rental contracts, and the expropriation of residential properties from vulture funds.
How many people participated in the Madrid demonstration?
Organizers stated that approximately 500,000 people took part in the Madrid march, while local authorities put the official crowd estimate at around 70,000.
What specific incident triggered the week-long encampment?
The protests and subsequent camp at Puerta del Sol began after the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who was removed from her home of seven decades on a stretcher.
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